Her theatre credits include Footfalls in the Gate's celebrated Beckett Festival in New York and London.

She also appeared in several plays at the Abbey Theatre including Six Characters in Search of an Author, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hedda Gabler.

Most recently Ms Fitzgerald appeared in Between Foxrock and A Hard Place by Paul Howard, at the Olympia Theatre in 2010 and later in the Cork Opera House and Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in 2011.

Radio credits include Emma Brown, Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Hotel du Lac The Book On One, The Hit List, Yesterday’s News, Medea, Room in The Tower, and most recently, Afterlife, for RTE Radio in December 2012.

Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage expressed his sympathy on hearing of her death: He said: “Susan is the pre-eminent stage actress of her generation and beloved of theatre audiences. Susan played leading roles in the Gate Theatre in plays by both Irish and overseas writers.

“Her talents were not, however, limited to the stage only and her work on TV included Fair City, Rebel Heart and Bachelors Walk. With the poise of the truly gifted she could move from comedies of manners to contemporary plays and also, with equal facility, to television and film.

“She was especially kind and helpful to emerging young actors and her elegant presence soothed many opening night nerves. My sympathy today is with Michael Colgan and their children Sarah, Sophie and Richard, her grandchild, extended family and the acting community. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”